Our civic duty

[Dave Roberts]

As I have listened to the ads, the political leadership, and the general tenor of the last week, it seems the only civic duty we have left is consumerism. If this is a correct assessment, then is democracy dead unless you equate democracy and capitalism as being the same? I would appreciate your thoughts.

[KeithE]

[Tim Bonney]

Dave,

Yes, that is how it appears to me. And anyone who doesn't put capitalism at the top of their commitments is called a socialist or worse. Witness Rush Limbaugh's ridiculous comments about Pope Francis.

It is ok to care about the poor in this country as long as you never talk about why people are poor or attempt to redress any grievances that the poor have.

As a reader of medieval English history I find it more than a bit scary that we seem to be leaning back towards the kind of conditions that created feudalism where all the benefits of the law and taxes go to either rich individuals or rich corporations who are supported by the laws of the nation.

I'm also concerned that our current system of government guarantees grid lock with a two party system which separates the Executive from the legislature. In part our founders wanted this as a check and balance. But I don't believe they ever envisioned our two party gridlock.

[William Thornton]

You guys really ought to travel a bit and see what passes for poverty in most of the world.

[Tim Bonney]

[Dave Roberts]

I was in a meeting this morning with the local director of Social Services. In their service area, last year they served 5,800 non-duplicating individuals in a total population of just over 16,000. I think that's poverty. I also have been in Puerto Rico and Mexico, grew up in Appalachia, and have been in inner-city neighborhoods.

[Ed Pettibone]